Interlocked open keyboards with electric restoring



G. H. MAY

Oct. 13, 1964 INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARDS WITH ELECTRIC RESTORING FiledOCQ. 25, 1961 cli INVENTOR GORDON H. MAY M fyM ATTORNEY FIG.5(b)F|G.5(C)

G. H. MAY

Oct. 13, 1964 INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARDS WITH ELECTRIC RESTORING FiledOct. 25 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 13, 1964 G. H. MAY 3,152,759

INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARDS WITH ELECTRIC RESTORING Filed OCT.. 25, 19613 Sheets-Sheet 3 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 52 86 82 65 CME n manydifferent designs.

United States Patent O The invention relates to keyboards, and itparticularly K pertains to open keyboards for higher speed entering ofdata into accounting and other business machines, although it is notlimited to such machines.

There are many business machines which have manually operated keyboardsas the data input means. Such keyboards can be classified in many ways.For instance, adding machines are frequency classified as lll-key andtil-key or full-keyboard machines. The type of keyresponse is sometimesused to classify machines having keyboards as, for example: key drivemachines and conditioning key machines. At other times is it convenientto classify machines as to closed type keyboards or open type keyboards.The term closed keyboard, as used hereinafter, is construed as akeyboard that is interlocked in such a way that the operator must lifthis finger from a depressed key before the next key can be depressed.This type of keyboard is slower than the open keyboard, since anypossible key stroke overlap is substantially eliminated. In this type ofkeyboard there is no provision to insure against blank column mistakes.The term kopen keyboard as used hereinafter, is construed fas any typeof keyboard which allows the operator to depress two or more keyssimultaneously. Such keyboards usually have no provisions to insureagainst double character keying or blank column mistakes.

The invention is concerned with a hybrid type keyy board termedhereinafter an interlocked open keyboard with electric restoring, whichinhibits simultaneous keying, but allows the operator to have two ormore keys depressed at the same time, providing the keys were depressedin sequence. ln this keyboard double character keying is inhibited bythe interlock and blank column mistakes are eliminated, since theelectrically operated restore bail cannot function until an entry hasbeen made. As used hereinafter, the term interlock is construed as anydevice or mechanism which makes `-it impossible to key two characterssimultaneously; that is, to enter the corresponding function whetherornot more than one key may be depressed at a given time.

The prior art is replete with excellent keyboards of However, theseprior yart keyboards are subject to improvement in several features. Thekey stroke is often overlyy stiff and frequently the design is such thatservicing is diliicult and adjustments are particularly hard to carryout. Prior attempts to overcome these shortcomings have resulted inexcessively complex and expensive keyboards.

. An object of the invention is to provide an open keyboard withinterlocking and electrical restoring which has a good key stroke,beingy neither too sensitive nor too stili, and having good operatorfeedback(y n Another object of the invention kisto provide afkeyf boardhaving all major functional parts readily accessible p for servicing,with the parts particularly simplified 'and accessible for adjustment.

l A further object of the invention is to provide a keyf board with aminimum number of parts and at lower laccon'ipanying drawing forming3,152,759 Patented oet. 1s, issie ICB According to the invention aninterlocked open keyboard with electric restoring comprises -a more orless conventional frame, a plurality of cross members in the frame, aninterlock assembly on a cross member or itself a cross member, but twospring assemblies on cross members and a switch actuated by a pluralityof key sections with each section having but two bars biased byresilient members ofthe two spring assemblies. Each keyk section has onekey bar supported by a pair of cantilever spring portions, whichpreferably are parts of a unitary spring assembly, affording strictlyparallel key bar translation with light, but positive key action. Eachkey section has one selection bar having a shoulder bearing in a homeposition against a cross member in the frame of the keyboard under theurging of a leaf spring portion, which may be a part of an integralassembly. The cooperating key and selection bars also have cammingsurfaces arranged for tripping the selection bar off the shoulder underdepression of the key barfor driving the selection bar into an activeposition under the urging of the leaf spring portion. The cammingsurfaces are also arranged in such manner that while one selection baris in the active position and all other selection bars are held out ofthe active position by the interlock mechanism,

another associated key bar may be depressed to drive the cooperatingselection bar against the interlock under the urging of one of the twospring assemblies in a ready position in readiness for immediatemovement into the active position upon restoration of the previouslyactivated selection bar by the electric restoring bail. Preferably aresilient extension of the one of the cantilever spring members is usedto perform the functions of tripping the selection bar olic the shoulderbearing on the cross mernber in the frame and bowing to permitdepressing the associated key bar and readying the selection barformovement into the active position. Y f

The keyboards according to the inventionare particularly suitable,although not limited to, the operation of switching matrices of thetypes involving electric magnetic or optic circuit paths, andffurtheraccording to the invention an electric switch contact assembly comprisesa plurality of contact bars, preferably having silver alloy blade stripsfor making the actual contact with silver alloy blades carried by theselection bars. The Contact making blades on the selection bars aremolded in insulating material and comprise a comb shaped silver alloy,yblade strip. Pilotholes in the insulating material permit the drillingout of portions of the comb to isolate portions of the contact makingblades from the remainder of the i comb assembly and drilling of otherholes into whichr wiresmay be soldered to connect groups of isolatedblade portions in the insulating material to provide special quate spaceis permitted for entering the necessary tools `and jigs, while at thesame time retainingthe compactness and simplicity of the principalstructure.

' ln order that important advantages of the invention may be readilyattanedin practice, several preferred em-v bodiments of the invention,given by Way of Vexamples,

only, are described hereinafter with *reference to the tion and inwhich:

FIG. l isfan assembly l View offa keyboard according to the invention; nf

a partk of the speciica-k FlG. 2 is an illustration of a key section andthe operation thereof according to the invention:

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another key section according to theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows details of key sections as shown assembled in FlG. l; and

FIG. is an illustration of electric switch contact parts according tothe invention.

FIG. 1 depicts an open keyboard according to the invention having aplurality of keys l@ interlocked so that only one key may be completelydepressed at a given instant to actuate electric contacts i2 or performsome other desired function, examples of which will be describedhereinafter. One of the remaining keys l@ may also be depressed afterrestoration of the rst key to the home position; a further key itl maybe depressed after restoration of the one key; and soon. The restoringmechanism conventionally restores much faster than the normal keyingspeed of the operator so 4that the maximum key stroke overlap isavailable without slowing the keying speed. According to the inventionthe keyboard is arranged so that a later operated key will complete thedesired function immediately upon the restoration of the earlieroperated key.

Because the operators of accounting and other machines having suchkeyboards usually refer to the Visible buttons or key tops themselves askeys, the key tops 14 were generally indicated as keys it?, buthereinafter the buttons themselves will be referred to as key tops lid,and the term keys will be used only in a general sense.

A keyboard according to the invention is arranged in a more or lessconventional frame i6, of which a backplate 18 and one end plate i9 onlyare partially shown, with lfour cross members 2li-24. The key bar crossmembers 2l and 22 have a plurality of parallel arranged slots 3i and 32,respectively, arranged therein to receive key bars 36. The key bars 3bare urged upward in the operating slots 31 and 32 by means of aresilient member assembly having cantilever restoring spring portions 4land 42. A number of selection bars 46 are arranged for horizontalmovement in confining slots 33 and 34 in sclection bar cross members 25and Z4, respectively. The selection bars do are urged `forward by meansof a resilient member assembly having driving spring fingers 52. Aconventional ball interlock assembly shown as comprising the crossmember 23 having a raceway 56 in which a plurality of balls 5S permitsonly one of the selection bars 46 to be moved downward into the trippedposition off the cross member 23. No other one of the selection bars 46can be propelled into the downward position until the previouslyactivated selection bar 46 is restored by means of a restoring bail ed,which is arranged to return the selection bar lo to the home positionagainst the bias of the resilient member 52.

For clarity the invention will be described now with reference tofigures showing but one or two key sections. The term key section asemployed herein is construed to be that portion of a keyboard comprisinga key top, a key bar, a selection bar, and a proportionate part of eachof the cross members, spring assemblies, interlock assembly and switchassembly, as necessary to perform the desired function.

FIG. 2 shows a key section according to the invention. rlhe key bar 3e'has depending pin portions el and 62 which are inserted in holes in thecantilever spring portions 4l', 42' of a unitary spring assembly Atl.The spring assembly [fi-tl supports the key bar 35 and urges it into thehome position at the top of the confining slots 3l and 32 in thecrossbars 2l and 22, and further confines the movement of key bar 36 tostrictly vertical movement. All of the key bars 36 in the switchboardarrangement are identical, except for the location of the key stem andthe surmounting key top le. As shown, the key top lllis almost directlyover the support pins 61 and 62, but as also shown in phantom other keystem positions are used without detracting from the parallel translationafforded by the cantilever spring members 4l and 42. The key bars 36 arereadily removed and inserted into the keyboard arrangement withoutdiiculty by the technician. it is merely necessary to deect the springmembers 41', ft2 to disengage the support pin portions 61' and 62', andmove the key bar 36 to the rear far enough to remove it from the forwardcross member slot 31; no special tools are needed. A depending portion64' of the key bar 36 having a camming surface 65 isl arranged to tripthe selection bar lid' off of a camming surfaced shoulder portion 66 ofthe cross member 54 of the interlock assembly where it is urged to thehome position by the resilient spring member 52', which is held to theframe by a cross member 23. As shown in FIG. 2'(b) a depression of thekey top 14 moves the key bar 36 downward and the tip of the cammingportion 65' nudges the selection bar 46 oh the shoulder permitting it togo forward under urging of the resilient member 52', and allowing it todrop down between the' balls 58 provided no other selection bar is soactive. Depressing any other key top 14 will be of no' avail since theball interlock assembly will prevent the corresponding selection bar 46from entering the interlock and going downward to trip and uncover theapertures in the light switch l2'. Pressure need not be removed from theother key top lkhowever, as the camming surfaces 65' and 6e are arrangedto permit the tip portion of the camming surface 65 to move downwardinto the space formed 1by `forcing the selection bar 46 rearward due tothe camming surface 65 against the urging of the resilient member 52.Thus the selection bar 46' is conditioned for entry into the ballinterlock upon restoration by the restoringbail titl', since theselection bar 46 will move forward off the camming surface 65 of thedepending portion 64' andi go into the active position under theinfluence of the resilient member 52. Thus it is possible t'o depresskeys in succession on` an open keyboard according to the inventionresulting in higher speed keying being possible than with a closedkeyboard, and without the danger of double character keying.

As also shownin FIG. 2 the open keyboard according to the invention isarranged to operate alight switch 12' wherein light from a lamp 7l isswitched by means of a shutter 72 through apertures 73 ontophotoresponsive elements 74. Obviously other switch assemblies may beoperat'ed by the selection bars 46', such as for example the electriccontact' switch assembly l2 as shown in FIGS. l and 41, and theconventional magnetic switch array (not shown) comprising windings andmovable cores arranged to be positioned by the selection bars. f

FIG. 3 illustrates another form of the open keyboard according to theinvention which operates similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2,'the principal difference ly-V ing in the construction of the springassembly wherein the resilient spring member 52 is an extending portionof the cantilever support spring member 42". A depending portion 64"with a camming surface 65 is present as before, for cooperation with acamming surface in a notch 66" in the selective bar 4b" in the samemanner as for that shownin FIG. 2'.

Key sections according to the invention as illustrated in the keyboardarrangement of FlG. 1 are shown in elevation of FIG. 4. As before, thekey bars 36' are supported for strictly vertical translation by springmembers il and 42 and the selection bars are urged forward by means of aresilient member 52. Two bars are shown in FIG. 4, the off bardesignated 46a and the near bar designated 4511. Each of the selectionbars 46 has a shoulder 66 which is urged up against theV cross member 23in which the raceway S6 for the balls 58v of the ball interlock assemblyis arranged. A spring extension S2 of the spring 42 rests in la notch 84of the selection bars 46. When a key bar 36 is depressed the extensionspring S2 forces the near selection bar 46h olf the shoulder 6(,Lpermitting an upper blade to enter the ball interlockA t3 and allowingthe switch 12 to be operated if there is room in the ball interlock forthe blade 85 toenter. According to the invention the Spring extension 82bows sulhciently, in FIG. 4(1)), to liex over the camming surface 65 ofthe near key bar 36h and the surface 84 of the near selection bar 4Gbwhen the latter is prevented from entering the ball interlock by theprior entrance of the off selection bar 46a. The spring extension 82iiexes sufficiently to yallow the depression of the key top llb andpermit restoration of the olic selection bar 46a by the'restoring bail6), and the near selection barn/15b remains above the bail 60' as theball interlock will only permit it to enter a short distance as longasthe oil selection bar 46a is in the interlock. The

clined surface of the restoring bail 60 assisting it in its movement tothe home position enabling the subsequent entrance of the near selectionbar 4611 into the ball interlock in the desired sequence.

The electric switch 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, comprisescomplementary silver alloy comb shaped electric Contact members 9d and91. The xed Contact members @il are held in J shaped bus bars 92, andthe movable contact members 91 are embedded in ank insulating member 93molded to the permutation bars 46 with the teeth or contact makingblades 94 protruding. The movable blades 94 make or break contact asdesired with the fixed contact making blades 95' made of silver alloyand held in electric circuit bus bars 92, as shown. The blades 95 whichare not required for making the desired coding for a particularswitching system are removed in manufacture or in the iield asconvenient, the structure according to the invention readily lendingitself to such alteration.

As thus far described the switch 12 comprises xed and movable contactsfor connection by those skilled in the art tosatisty the requirements ofthe equipment at hand. In a common arrangement, for example, acommoncontact member94 is connected to a common bus 92e for applyingelectric currentto others of the busses g2 as may be desired. Accordingto the invention, however, dilierent connections of bus bars 'may beelected. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, two ot the teeth 94s of thecomb member 91 may be isolated from the comb by drilingV through holes9o `for which pilot depressions '96p have been molded in the insulatingmember 93. The

Wire is soldered to the isolated teeth 94s in holes 99 on the oppositeside which are drilled out as needed, pilot holes 99p having been moldedin the member 93.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodthat those skilled'in the art many make various changes in the form anddetails without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

l. LAn interlocked open ,keyboard having a frame, a plurality of keysections and a switch assembly arranged in said trarne and amechanicalinterlock assembly permitting but one of said key sections to beoperated to an active state at any one time, each key section comprisinga key bar arranged insaid frame for movement in` one direction, a keystem andr afkey top mounted on said key bar, first resilient meansurging said key bar to ak `home position and confining vthe movement ofsaid key bar to a single degree of freedom, a selection bar arranged insaid frame in the same plane of movement as that of said key bar formovement in another direction and coupled to said switch apparatus, andsecond resilient means urging said selectionbar in said other directioninto 'a home position and toward an active position, said `selection andkey barshaving cooperating camming surfaces arranged to trip saidselection ba'r for movement to said active position as permitted by saidinterlock assembly and to hold said selection bar in readiness for saidmovement against additional deflection of one of said g resilient meansin the event said selection bar is locked out by said assembly.

2. An open keyboard having n y.

a frame,

a key bar arranged in said frame for movement f given direction,

a resilient member urging said key bar into a home position, n

a selectionbar arranged for movement in a predeter mined direction inresponse to the movement of said key bar,

a further resilient member urging said selection bar in saidpredetermined direction into a home position and into an active positionin responsefto movement of said key bar, f

camming elements arranged on said key and selection bars and operativeagainst the resilience of one of said resilient members for permittingthe movement of said key bar and restraining the movement of saidselection bar into said active position, and

utilization apparatus actuated by said selection bar.

3. An interlocked open keyboard having a frame, f

a key bar arranged in said frame for movement in a given direction, l y

a resilient member restraining said key bar movement to said givendirection and urging said key bar into a yhome position,

a selection bar arranged for movement in a predetermined direction inresponse to the movement of said key bar,

ina

a further resilient member urging said selection bar in saidpredetermined direction into a home position and into an active positionin response to movemen of said key bar,

camming elements arranged on said key and selection' an interlockrestraining the movement of said selection y bar into said activeposition, and utilization apparatus to be actuated by said selectionbar.

4. An interlocked open keyboard having a frame, a

plurality of keyrsections and utilization apparatus arranged in saidframe and mechanical interlock means permitting but one oi said keysections to be operated to a completely active state at any one time,each key section comprising a key bar arranged in said frame forsubstantially vertical movement, a key stem and a key top mounted onsaid key bar, first resilient means urging said key bar upward to a homeposition and conning the movement of said key bar to a single degree offreedom, a selection bar substantially horizontal movement in the sameplane of movement as that of said key bar, a potential energy pathopening and closing utilization structure arranged in said frame andcoupled to said' selection bar, and second resilientlmeans urgingrk saidselection bar in substantially horizontal movement into a home positionand in response l to depression of said key bar toward an activeposition,.

saidV select1on and key bars having cooperating camming f surfacesarranged to initiate movement of said selection bar toward said activeposition with additional deiiection of one of said resilient means inthe event said selection bar is locked outy by vsaid interlock means.

5. An interlocked open keyboard having a frame, a plurality of keysectionsy and utilization apparatus arranged in said frame andmechanical interlock means permitting but one of said key sections to beoperated to a completely active state at any one time, each key sectioncomprising a key bar arranged in said frame for substan. tially vert1calmovement, a key stem and a key top mounted on said key bar, irstresilient means urging said key har upward to a home position andconlining the movement of said key bar to a single degree of freedom, avselection bar underlying said key bar and arranged in said :frame forsubstantially horizontal movement in the same plane of movement as thatof said key bar, a potential energy path opening and closing utilizationstructure arranged in said frame and coupled to said selection bar, andsecond resilient means urging said selection bar in substantiallyhorizontal movement into a home position and in response to depressionot said key bar toward an active position, said selection and key barshaving cooperating camming surfaces arranged to initiate movement ofsaid selection bar into said interlock means prior to forward movementinto said active position under urging by said second resilient means.

6. An interlocked open keyboard including a frame, two pairs of crossmembers arranged parallel to each other in said frame and having amultiple of elongated slots there. in arranged parallel to each other, amultiple of key bars arranged for movement in one direction incorresponding slots of one of said pairs of cross members and having keystems thereon, a like multiple of selection bars a1'- ranged insubstantially the same plane as said key bars for movement in adirection substantially normal to said one direction in correspondingslots of the other of said pairs of cross members, said selection barshaving shoulders thereon normally bearing on one of the other of saidpairs of cross members, said bars having cooperative camming surfacesthereon, an assembly oi dual-leaf springs arranged on one of said crossmembers supporting and urging said key bars upwardly to a home positionand having extensions thereon individually contacting correspendingselection bars, an assembly of single-leaf springs urging said selectionbars against said one other cross member in said other direction, saidsprings being the sole means for retaining said bars in saidcorresponding slots, a mechanical interlock assembly arranged on saidother cross member for receiving but one of said selection bars at anyone time, key tops individual to and arranged on said key stems, and aswitch assembly arranged to be operated by movement of said selectionbars.

7. An interlocked open keyboard comprising, a frame having parallelcross members each having a like plurality of elongated slots arrangedparallel to each other, a number of key bars arranged in pairs of saidslots, a key top for each key bar, an assembly bearing a pair ofcantilever spring members for each of said key bars arranged on one ofsaid cross members in Contact with the associated key bars urging it toa home position and confining its movement to a single degree offreedom, an interlock assembly having a number of slots therein, a likenumber of selection bars arranged in pairs of said slots for movement ina direction substantially normal to the direction of movement of saidkey bars and in substantially the same plane as the associated key bar,each selection bar having a shoulder portion bearing against a commoncross member in the home position and a blade portion extending intosaid interlock assembly, said interlock assembly being arranged topermit but one f said selection bars to move to the active position atany one operation, an assembly bearing a number of spring membersarranged on one of said cross members urging said selection bars intosaid home position and toward said active position, each of said pairsof cantilever spring members having an extension extending toward theassociated selection bar, each of said selection bars having a cammingsurface underlying the associated cantilever spring extension andarranged to trip said selection bar shoulder oit said cross-bar and topermit said extension to bow in the event said selection bar is lockedout of movement into said interlock mechanism, a restorbail arrangedcrosswise of said frame for restoring said selection bars to said homeposition, and an electric contact switching assembly operated by saidselection bars comprising a number of sets of contact members underlyingsaid selection bars, each of said sets of contact members being incomb-like coniiguration extending across and beneath said selectionbars, a like number of sets of interconnect members, each arranged on anassociated selection bar and being in the form of a comb-likeconieuration having teeth arranged in proximity to the teeth of saidcontact members for selective contact and interconnecting of the sets ofcontact members.

8. An open keyboard having a frame,

a key bar arranged in said frame for movement in a given direction,

a resilient member urging said key bar into a home position,

a selection bar arranged for movement in a predetermined direction inresponse to the movement of said key bar,

a further resilient member urging said selection bar in saidpredetermined direction into a home position and into an active positionin response to movement of said key bar,

camming elements arranged on said key and selection bars and operativeagainst the resilience of one of said resilient members for permittingthe movement of said key bar and restraining the movement of saidselection bar into said active position,

an electric switch actuated by said selection bar,

said switch comprising a plurality of fixed contact members arranged inlinear relationship to said selection bar, and

a plurality of moving contact members, comprising an elongated comb-likestructure of contact making material molded in an elongated insulatingstructure carried by said selection bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS3,069,674 MacNeill Dec. 18, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE0E CORRECTION Patent No. 3,152,759 October 13, 1964 Gordon Herbert MayIt is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Lette-rs Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 6, line 56, after "bar", second occurrence, insert underlyingsaid key bar and arranged in said frame for Signed and sealed this 9thday of February 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER y EDWARD J. BRENNER Aitesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION PatentNo., 3, 152,759 October 13, 1964 Gordon Herbert May g It is herebycertified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiringcorrection and that the said Letters Patentshould read as correctedbelow.

Column 6, line 56, after "bar", second occurrence, insert underlyingsaid key bar and arranged in said frame for Signed and sealed this 9thday of February 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST WQ SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. AN INTERLOCKED OPEN KEYBOARD HAVING A FRAME, A PLURALITY OF KEYSECTIONS AND A SWITCH ASSEMBLY ARRANGED IN SAID FRAME AND A MECHANICALINTERLOCK ASSEMBLY PERMITTING BUT ONE OF SAID KEY SECTIONS TO BEOPERATED TO AN ACTIVE STATE AT ONE TIME, EACH KEY SECTION COMPRISING AKEY BAR ARRANGED IN SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION, A KEY STEMAND A KEY TOP MOUNTED ON SAID KEY BAR, FIRST RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAIDKEY BAR TO A HOME POSITION AND CONFINING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID KEY BAR TOA SINGLE DEGREE OF FREEDOM, A SELECTION BAR ARRANGED IN SAID FRAME INTHE SAME PLANE OF MOVEMENT AS THAT OF SAID KEY BAR FOR MOVEMENT INANOTHER DIRECTION AND COUPLED TO SAID SWITCH APPARATUS, AND SECONDRESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID SELECTION BAR IN SAID OTHER DIRECTION INTO AHOME POSITION AND TOWARD AN ACTIVE POSITION, SAID SELECTION AND KEY BARSHAVING COOPERATING CAMMING SURFACES ARRANGED TO TRIP SAID SELECTION BARFOR MOVEMENT TO SAID ACTIVE POSITION AS PERMITTED BY SAID INTERLOCKASSEMBLY AND TO HOLD SAID SELECTION BAR IN READINESS FOR SAID MOVEMENTAGAINST ADDITIONAL DEFLECTION OF ONE OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS IN THEEVENT SAID SELECTION BAR IS LOCKED OUT BY SAID ASSEMBLY.